Combined casket and grave-vault.



J. W. FREEMAN.

COMBINED CASKET AND GRAVE VAULT} APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22 191-L Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jan W fine/710x."

J. W. FREEMAN.

COMBINED CASKET AND GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION YILED JUNE 22,1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS'SHBE'X Z.

provide a structure of 'may be had at UNITED STATES PATENT oFui oE.

JOSEPH W. FREEMAN, OF COLUMBUS, OH IO. ASSIGNOR TO THE EVERLASTING COMBINED CASKET & VAULT COMPANY,

OF COLUMBUS OHIO A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMBINED CASKET AND GRAVE- VAULT.

Be it known that 1, Josicrn \Y. l unmmx, a citizen of the United States, residing at .Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio. have invented certain new and useful Caskets and (lra\'e-\'aults of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined casket and grave vault and aims particularly to this type which .will be proof against the admission of. water and against corrosion when the same is placed in the ground for burial purposes.

The main object of my invention resides in the provision of a structure which normally resembles the ordinary casket now in use and which may retain this appearanc' as long as a body is lying in state, but which may be made to perform the. functions of a vault by this element taking the form of a hood having a top and depending sides and ends. but. whose bottom is open so that the same may be freely passed over the,casket itself.

Another object of my invention resides in providing a structure wherein the casket body is surrounded by a decorative casing, this casing being permanent to all intents audpurposes, but being removable therefrom for re-use before the body is lowered into the grave. lly this structure, a casket serving all the ends of the ordinary casket aconsiderably reduced cost, inasmuch the decorative casing adds nothing to the 'n'eserving properties of the Casket and may. therefore, be removed and again used for decorative purposes. In this connection, tny inventionalso resides in providing packing strips for normally covering the space formed between the casket body and the decorative casing to add a more pleasing elfect to l the device as a whole.

My invention also resides in providing selt' centering means for the casket body with respect to the external removable casing. this centering means being for the purpowof permitting the ready application of either the tiller strips or the hood menibe Specification of Letters Patent.

Improvements in Combined the use of an additional element,

Patented Feb. 16, 1915. Serial No. 846,540.

which latter transforms the casket into a vault. In this connection, my invention also resides in so constructing the external removable casing that it has a substantially open bottom and an open top, this casing fitting the casket body itself with sullicient closeness that it will. have the appearance of being a permanent part thereof, but at the same time it may be removed for re-use in connection with another casket: body. The substantially open bottom permitsthe ready removal'of the same from about the casket body without disturbing the casket body itself by turning the supporting portion of the customary pedestals at: right angles, so that these pedestals will have no bearing support upon the casing itself and thereby permit this casing to bel'giecn a downward movement away from the casket body. In this manner. myinvention has an advantage over the box-like structure in which the casket bodies are now sometimes placed Still a further object of my invention resides in the peculiar manner of wall construction used by me, as will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out.

Other ob ects oi my invention will become more apparent after a further detailed description of the. accom' nurvang sheets of drawing, in which similar characters of refcrenee designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the surrounding casing or decorative. element used by me and shown separately, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the casket body proper. this body being shown as carrying a lid, Fig. It is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the hood element placed over the casket body to transfo m it into a burialvault, Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through one side and corner of the assembled structure, asshown in Fig. 6, Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the structure shown in Fig. Fig. 6 is a broken perspective of the assembledstructure when used as a grave vault. Fig. 7 is a broken perspective of the assembled structure when used as a casket only, and, Fig. 8 is a view in perspec- ,tive of one of the filler strips used by me.

used by me adapted to be I v hood member i. The casing element 1 is My combined casket and grzwe vault comprises three elements in particular, the sur-' rounding casing 1 which may be decorated as desired and provided with handles 2 if desired, the casket body proper 3 and the preferably constructed of a combination of cardboard and sheet metal, this cardboard being of the well known double-wall'type, in which the rear piece 5 is flat, while the inner face 6 carried thereby, is of a corrugated nature. Mounted flush on the corrugated side and adapted to coincide with the corrugation of the cardboard member, lies a metallic sheet 7, the corrugations being provided to add strength to the structure and also permit of the use of a very light sheet metal. Onto the flat side of the cardboard I attach a cloth covering-8 and whatever other decorations may be desired. The lower longitudinal edge of the flat member 5 of the cardboard is cut out to receive the upstanding leg 9 of a suitably shaped stop or shelf member whose horizontal leg is bent out as at 10 and again doubled back as shown at 11, the end of the portion 11 being again bent upwardly as shown at 12- to lie against and be attached to the corrugated sheet metal member 7, thus providing a sub stantially open bottrm for the casing. At suitable intervals, I have provided spring 7 clip members as is shown at 13, these spring clips being designed forthe purpose of causing a self centering action of the casket body itself when it is placed within the easng member.

The upper longitudinal edge of the flat cardboard portion 5 is also cut out to receive the depending leg 14 of a Ushaped reinforcing member 15, the other leg 16 of this U-shaped member embracing the entire upper edge of the casing structure with the exception of the decorative portion to give the desired strength. lVithin this casing is adapted to rest the casket body proper 3, this latter carrying a hinged lid 17 and being fitted on the inside as may be desired. The wall structure of this casket body is more clearly shown in Fig. 4 and is similar in some respects to the casing structure. In this figure, it will be noted that an outside metal covering 18 is provided, the lower portion of this metal covering being bent at right angles as shown at 19 to form the bottom of the casket body proper, while its upper edge portion is shaped as shown at 20 to form a reinforcing portion and also to form a rest rail upon which the interior fabric decoration of thecasket body ma, be attached. The walls of the casket body are also fitted up with cardl'ioard of a double nature. inwhich ll represents the flat member, while 22 represents the corrugated member. Lying against the corrugated member 22 is the corrugated sheet metal 23 which-forms the interior of the casket body and similarly, a corrugated sheet 24 lies on the bottom flush against the corrugated cardboard 25. The side and bottom portions are securely held in position by means of the angle strip 26, while the top edges are reinforced and securely held together by means of the U-shaped member 27 carrying the lateral projection 28 to give added stability to the shelf structure 20. \Vhile I have here shown only one wall and a portion of the bottom, it is to be understood that the opposite wall is similarly constructed.

The hood member 4 is formed of depending sheet metal sides and ends, the lower portions of the sides and ends being doubled back. as shown at 29 to do away with any raw edges, while the upper edges of these sides and ends are bent to hook shape as is shown at 30 to cooperate with similar hooks 31 on the outside sheet metal cover 32 forming the dome of this hood. I have also resorted to the use of the double cardboard structure in forming the dome of this hood. This cardboard structure being similar to that previously related and being designated in its entirety as 33, while the inside is also provided with the corrugated sheet metal covering 34:. The point of jointure of the sides and dome forms a suitable point for the attachment of a U-shaped strengthening member 35, the opposite leg of this U-shaped member embracing the inside sheet metal 34 to securely hold it in place and at the same time forms a suitable shelf to which a gasket 36 may be attached to cooperate with the upper edge of the casket to form a seal when the hood is in the position shown n Figs. 4 and 6.

The casing member lis preferably made slightly larger than the casket body 3, so that the same may comfortably fit within the casing and normally rest upon the lower stop as is shown at 10. Should it be desired to use the structure as a casket only. it is assembled as is shown in Fig. 7, wherein'the spring clips 13 accurately center the casket body with respect to the casing. In order to cover the space between the casket body and the casing, I insert angle filler strip 37 as is shown. These filler strips add to the appearance of the device, but it is to be understood that they are only temporarily placed in this position.

Should it be desired to bury the body Without transforming the device into a vault. and with as little expense as is possible, the casket body 3 may be removed from the casing and lowered into the grave.

However, if it is desired to guard against the admission of water and to preserve the body indefinitely, the hood 4 may be slid into position af er removing the angle strips till 3?. As is shown in the drawings, the sides and ends of this hood fit down over the sides and ends of the casket body a considerable distance and any water attempting to enter the casket would do so against the pressure of the air confined under the hood. After this water rises around the casket body :1 d stanre to cm er the lower edge of the hood, :1 seal is ell'ccted which positively prevents the .eseape of the air and any additional aater will simply increase the pressure within the casket body until this pressure is suliicient to guard against any subsequent rise. In addition, the gasket 36 also serves. in a measure, to seal the casket.

From the above description, it will be ap parent that I have provided a' structure ol' considerable utility and one in which ap' pearance as well as expense has been well considered. For a very cheap casket, the casing 1 ma, be used for display purposes and removed before the casket is lowered in the grade or, the using itself may be prowith a saitabie lid and be used as a It something more expensive is deth rasing may be left in its position. but ii t is desired to transform the device into a vault. the angle strips 237 are removed and the hood 4 placed in its position. It is also to be understood that the casing 1 may be removed when, so desired when the strueturris used a vault.

What i elaim. is:

1. A. combined casket and grave vault eoinprising a casket body, an external casing therefor, and a hood member having a top and depending sides and ends and an open bottom adapted to slide down into position to carer the top of said body and enter the space between said body and said casing.

.i combined casket and grave vault eomprisin a casket body. a lid therefor, an fiiliiilili ea g surroundi the ends and sales of said body and slig tly larger than said body. said body being readily removaide from said casing, and a hood member in ii a: a top and depending sides and ends and an open bottom adapted to slide down into position to cover the top and fit down over the sides of said body and between said body and said casing.

3. A combined casket and grave vault eomprisine a casket body, a lid therefor, an external casing surrounding the ends and sides oi said body and entirely independent thereof. stops along! the lower inside nortiou of said casing upon which said body is adapted to T1 and a hood member having a top and de ending sides and ends and an open ra ism adapted to cover the p of said body and enter the between said body and easing.

i. A combined casket and grave vault eomai-ising a casket body. an external decorative easing surrounding the we: and err of said body. 1: id Easing boil j 'ireiv in dependent of and remm able tiara said body \YllCndlLsll'Qd For re-use, and a hood monk her having a top and depending sides and ends and an open bottom adswied to cover '56 the top and slide don a in ieiatmn over the sides and nds of said body when said easing. is removed.

5. combinrd easiart .eve compris ng a casket or Lrna ":5

rative easing: surround 1 of said body. said er inn; 5,: en? dependent of and reinwable from when desired or rous adapted to cover the s casing and said body awn said rounds said body.

A combin d casket and comprising a casli'et body. an external L rative casing surroiuidin; the Sit of said bodv.. 'l casing being of sa d body, a hood iiaa' VG Y pending: sides and end Lvi 1 adapted to cover the top a" over the sides and nds space between said tie iv and filler stri iapt in between said cos 5 and sa casing surrounds said removed therefrom.

7. A combined comprising a casket ing surrounding the sin. e and ends of body and independent thereof. stops ah i P the lower inside portion of said casing; upon which said body is adapted to rest. spring clips between said casing and body and earried by one of them to center said body with respect to said casing. a hood member having a top and depending sides and ads and an open bottom adapted to slide flown into position to cover the top and fit air wan over the sides of said body and i$('i-s= ,?fl said body and said casing. and a iedgre t. the up per portion of said hood adapted to on the top of said body when {he been avers said body.

8. A casket comprising a main body. an external surrounding casing having an open top and bottom and removable from sa d main body for reuse. and a supporting; structure rigidly carried by said casing! and arranged to normally support the main body therein. said casing being removable from said main body by relative dew n ward movehe ment.

9, A casket comprising a main body, an external surrounding casing: an open top removable thereiroin for reuse. and a horizontal shelf surrounding the lower interior portion of said casing upon which the base of said body is adapted to normally rest.

10. In a casket, wall construction com- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature prising a double thickness of cardboard, in presence of two witnesses. one being fiat and the other corrugnteth a r n s cloth covering adapted to be aiiixed to said Jobhl H FRLEMAN' fiat portion, and a sheet metal body corru- \Vitnesses:

gated to mesh with the corrugations of cor- G150. 15. DONAVIN,

rugated portion of said cardboard, J MATTHEWS. 

